400 US Marines leaving Syria

“The departure of these outstanding Marines is a sign of real progress in the region”

More than 400 artillery Marines are leaving Syria after helping local forces retake the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria’s (ISIS) one-time de facto capital of Raqqa, the U.S.-led coalition said Thursday.

“With the city liberated and ISIS on the run, the unit has been ordered home. Its replacements have been called off,” the coalition said in a news release.

The 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment arrived in Syria in Sept. 15 during the battle for Raqqa, replacing a previous unit.

The U.S.-supported Syrian Democratic Forces retook Raqqa in October after a four-month battle for the city against ISIS.